Adjustable feeding and watering trough



T. J. STOCKTON.

ADJUSTABLE FEEDING AND WATERING TROUGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1920. V

Patented Oct. 19,1920.

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UNITED STATES,

THOMAS J. STOCKTON, or BURKE, VIRGINIA.

ADJUSTABLE FEEDING AND WATERING THOUGH.

Specification of Letters lfatent. Patent d O t; 19 192() Applicationfiled March 10, 1920. Serial No. 364,741.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, THoMAs J. STOCKTON,

citizen of the United States, residing at- Burke," in the county ofFairfax and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Ad ustable Feeding and atering Troughs, of which thefollowing is a specificatlon.

- ing barrier, and arranged to have thefood introduced into the troughfrom one side of the fence, while the creatures to be fed may approachthe trough and reach its contents from the other side of the fence, andthe trough itself will act in all positions practically as an obstacletothe passageof the feeders from their side of the fence to the otherside. This invention also falls within the class of feeding troughs thatmay be tilted in either direction and secured in different positions,and which may be arranged to feed eitherlarge or smallstock by suitablychanging the position,'-or it may be so disposed as to'enable chickensto'obtain convenient access to water or food contained in the trough-Thisinvention belongs further with those troughs of the characterstated that are provided with a movable and, if desired, removable apronor cover, which is adjustable with the trough and which acts inconnection with the trough to constitute an effective means forpreventing the stock, especially the small stock, from passing from'oneside of the fence to the other at'the point where the trough is located.

The object of this invention is the production of a trough of the naturementioned comprising parts of special construction and arrangementwhereby it is believed an unusually convenient, durable, easily operatedand manufactured feeding and drinking receptacle results.

To illustrate the preferred form and arrangement of the various partsthe accompanying drawings are made a portlon of this application. Of thedrawings Figure 1 represents a short length of fencing to which thisinvention, shown in side view, has been applied. Fig. 2 is a verticalcrosssection of the trough on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing thetrough in position for feeding large stock, that is to say, the

necks of small stock or fowls.

trough is not tilted. Inthis view. the'apron 18 shown in its raisedposition. In Fig. 3 alike section to Fig. 2 is set forth, showing thetrough inits lowest position. with the apron also lowered. i

Throughout the drawings and description the same letter is used to referto the same part. v i

Consider the drawings, the fence A has the posts 13 and b, which supportthe trough C by means of itsends D and d,'

IPFATENT OFFICE.

through which pass the trunnions E and c i that are secured to the postsas shown in Fig. 1.

It will be' noted that'the ends ofthe trough extend higher than thetrough it'- self, and in the'rear the ends areco'nnected by the back barF, usually a piece of angle iron as set forth. To the backbar is securedthe rear end of a transverse, curved bracing ribf, the front end ofwhich is secured to, the front edge of the trough; The rib fin practiceis customarily located about midway vbetween the ends of the trough,butv such particular arrangement is not essen' tial. The rib is'piercedat different points ofits length by bolt holes such as the hole g.

d A bolt G is supported by the fence rail andv is arranged to engage thebolt" holes g' to.

hold the trough in different tilted positions as will be readilyunderstood from the drawings.

'As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the sides of the ends of the trough arecurved circumferentially, with the axis of the trunnions E and e, thatis to say, the pivotal axis of the trough, at the center. The rib f hasthe same curve. curved front sides of the ends of the trough and uponthe curved rib is the apron H, which is removable if desired. Along itslower edge are formed spaced openings h to permit the entrance of theheads and The apron is provided with a plurality of bolt holes such asthe hole J, as shown in Fig. 3, and these holes are so arranged as toenable them tobe brought to register with the like bolt holes 9 throughthe curved rib f.

The operation of this invention may be front Resting upon the may beintroduced from one side of the fence, while the animals remain upon theother side of the fence. In Fig. 3 it will be noted that the apron maybe raised until the hole J registers with the hole 9, whereupon the boltG holds both trough and apron together in the adjusted position. Let itbe assumed that it is desired to use the trough for a time as a wateringtrpugh for poultry. Obviously, it is necessary that the trough bearranged in a low position so that the smaller fowls may reach the foodor water. In Fig. 3, the trough is shown as tilted into its lowestosition, and releasably held by the bolt in the bolt hole 9. The apron His also in its lowest position, and in order to secure it in place theremay be used a removable pin j passing through the bolt holes of the riband apron already described. The position of the apron shown in Fig. 3is the lowest position, and in higher positions, the bolt G is employedto hold both the apron and the trough together in place.

Having now described this invention, and explained the mode of itsoperation, what I claim is 1. In an adjustable trough, the combinationwith a support, ofa trough having its ends pivotally connected with thesupport, the said ends being extended higher than the trough, the frontside of each of the said ends being curved circumferentially with thepivotal axis of the trough at the center, a curving bracing ribextending transversely and secured at its forward end to the front edgeof the trough, means carried by the trough for securing the rear end ofthe rib near the rear edge of the trough between the said ends thereof,the said rib having the same circumferential curve as the said frontsides of the ends of the trough, a movable apron resting upon the saidrib and the curved sides of the trough, a latching device mounted uponthe said support, and openings located at different points of the saidrib and of the said apron for engaging the said latching device wherebythe trough and apron may be held together in different positions.

2. In an adjustable trough, the combination wth a support, of a troughhaving its ends pivotally connected with the support, the said endsbeing extended higher than the trough, the front side of each end of thetrough being curved circumferentially with the pivotal axis of thetrough at the center, a back bar connecting the ends of the trough atthe rear of the trough, a curving bracing rib extending transversely andhaving its rear end connected with the said back bar and its front endconnected with the front edge of the trough, the said rib having thesame circumferential curve as the said front sides of the ends of thetrough, a movable apron resting upon the said rib and upon the saidcurved front sides of the ends of the trough, a latching device mountedupon the said. support, and openings located at different points of thesaid rib and of the said apron for engaging the said latching devicewhereby the trough and apron may be held together in different tiltedpositions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS J. STOCKTON.

